Shulgi apparently led a major modernization of the
Third Dynasty of Ur. He improved communications, reorganized the army, reformed the writing system and weight and measures, unified the tax system, and created a strong
bureaucracy. He also wrote a law code, now known as the
Code of Ur-Nammu because it was originally thought to have been authored by Ur-Nammu. He also built or rebuilt numerous temples throughout the kingdom. Some much later chronicles castigate Shulgi for his impiety: The
Weidner Chronicle (ABC 19), a literary composition written in the 1st millennium BC, states that "he did not perform his rites to the letter, he defiled his purification rituals". CM 48, written late in the 1st millennium BC, charges him with improper tampering with the rites, composing "untruthful stelae, insolent writings" on them. He was succeeded by
Amar-Sin. The name Amar-Sin was not recorded before his ascension and is a "
throne name". His original name, and whether he was actually the son of Shugi, is unknown.
Name Early uncertainties about the reading of cuneiform led to the readings "Shulgi" and "Dungi" being common transliterations before the end of the 19th century. However, over the course of the 20th century, the scholarly consensus gravitated away from
dun towards
shul as the correct pronunciation of the sign. The spelling of Shulgi's name by scribes with the
diĝir determinative reflects his
deification during his reign, a status and spelling previously claimed by his
Akkadian Empire predecessor
Naram-Sin. File:Portraits of Shulgi.jpg|Portraits of Shulgi from his
Nuska seal.
Louvre Museum File:Portrait of Shulgi as a builder, on a foundation nail.jpg|Portrait of Shulgi as a builder, on a foundation nail.
Metropolitan Museum of Art Marriages Shulgi was a contemporary of the
Shakkanakku rulers of
Mari, particularly
Apil-kin and
Iddi-ilum. An inscription mentions that
Taram-Uram, the daughter of Apil-kin, became the "daughter-in-law" of
Ur-Nammu, and therefore the Queen of king Shulgi. In the inscription, she called herself "daughter-in-law of
Ur-Nammu", and "daughter of Apil-kin,
Lugal ("King") of Mari", suggesting for Apil-kin a position as a supreme ruler, and pointing to a marital alliance between Mari and
Ur.
Nin-kalla, Amat-Sin, and
Ea-niša were queens of Shulgi. They had influence and performed official functions which continued even after the death of Shulgi. Another queen,
Shulgi-simti, who is known from a high number of texts presenting evidence for her economic power, had similar status. The archive shows she selected various large animals to use in rituals for deities including
Belet-Šuḫnir and Belet-Terraban,
Annunitum,
Ulmašītum, Nanna, Ninlil, and Enlil. From 32nd to 47th year of Shulgi's reign she was in charge of the acceptance of ritual animals. On their death "libation places" for her and Shulgi were established. Another important woman was
Geme-Ninlilla who appears in texts at the end of the king's reign. Other, less well known royal women are
Šuqurtum,
Simat-Ea, and Geme-Su'ena. Shulgi, with many wives and concubines, is known to have had at least 16 sons including Etel-pū-Dagān, Amar-
dDa-mu, Lu-
dNanna, Lugal-a-zi-da, Ur-
d,Suen, and possibly
Amar-Sin (his throne name) as well as one daughter, Peš-tur-tur. The name of another daughter, Šāt-Kukuti, is known from a cuneiform tablet. Another daughter, Taram-Šulgi was married to the ruler of
Pašime, Šudda-bani. Kramer refers to Shulgi as "The first long distance running champion." Shulgi wrote 26 royal hymns to glorify himself and his actions. In one Shulgi claimed that he spoke
Elamite as well as he spoke
Sumerian. In another he refers to himself as "the king of the four-quarters, the pastor of the
black-headed people".
Armed conflicts While
Der had been one of the cities whose temple affairs Shulgi had directed in the first part of his reign, in his 20th year he claimed that the gods had decided that it now be destroyed, apparently as some punishment. The inscriptions state that he "put its field accounts in order" with the pick-axe. His 18th year-name was ''Year Liwir-mitashu, the king's daughter, was elevated to the ladyship in
Marhashi'', referring to a country near Anshan and her dynastic marriage to its king, Libanukshabash. Following this, Shulgi engaged in a period of expansionism at the expense of highlanders such as the
Lullubi, and destroyed
Simurrum (another
mountain tribe) and
Lulubum nine times between the 26th and 45th years of his reign. He is also known to have destroyed
Karaḫar, Harši,
Šašrum, and Urbilum. In his 30th year, his daughter was married to the governor of
Anshan; in his 34th year, he was already levying a punitive campaign against the place. He also destroyed Kimaš and Ḫurti (cities to the east of
Ur, somewhere near
Elam) in the 45th year of his reign. An inscribed brick recorded: As with many Mesopotamian rulers he dealt with nomadic incursion in his 37th year, he was obliged to build a large wall in an attempt to keep out the Tidnumite nomads. The Ur III dynasty had held control over Susa since the demise of
Puzur-Inshushinak, and they built numerous buildings and temples there. This control was continued by Shulgi as shown by his numerous dedications in the city-state. He also engaged in marital alliances, by marrying his daughters to rulers of eastern territories, such as
Anšan,
Marhashi and
Bashime. File:Shulgi_foundation_nail_dedicated_to_Inshushinak,_Louvre_Museum_Sb_2879._Shulgi_talet_dedicated_to_Ninhursag_of_Susa,_Louvre_Museum_Sb_2884.jpg|Foundation nail dedicated by Shulgi to the
Elamite god
Inshushinak, found in
Susa.
Louvre Museum. File:Carnelian bead with dedicatory inscription by Shulgi-Sb 6627 (transcription).jpg|Carnelian bead with dedicatory inscription by Shulgi, found in
Susa. Louvre Museum, Sb 6627. ==Year names==